CANTON, NY – A convicted child sex offender who staged his own death more than a decade ago to evade authorities was apprehended Thursday in upstate New York, ending a 13-year manhunt that began with pools of blood at an Oklahoma motel.
Anthony Lennon, 49, was arrested in Canton, New York, where he had been living under the alias “Justin Philips” while reportedly pursuing a doctorate in computer science at a local university. The arrest marks the end of one of Oklahoma’s most elaborate fugitive cases.
Lennon’s disappearance dates back to March 2012, when he was working at a Super 8 Motel in Moore, Oklahoma. He had been convicted in 2008 of aggravated child pornography possession and received a 20-year suspended sentence. When a task force discovered additional child pornography that month, Lennon faced imminent arrest.
Instead of surrendering, he created what Moore Police Chief Gibson described as “an elaborate and bloody abduction and robbery scene” at the motel. Large pools of his own blood initially convinced investigators he may have been killed or seriously injured.
“He went to extremes,” Chief Gibson said. “Mr. Lennon maybe thinks he’s a smart person, but he is not as smart as he thinks he is.”
While living as a fugitive in New York, Lennon assumed a new identity and integrated into the local community. Authorities are now investigating whether he committed additional crimes during his years in hiding.
Lennon faces charges of murder related to the staged death scene and tampering with evidence. The murder charge stems from investigators’ initial belief that foul play had occurred at the motel.
District Attorney Jennifer Austen expressed relief at the arrest. “Hopefully, now we can sentence Mr. Lennon to prison,” she said. “There will be no more children harmed by him.”
The case highlights the lengths some offenders will go to avoid prosecution, as well as the persistence of law enforcement in tracking down fugitives. Lennon’s capture came after years of investigative work by multiple agencies.
He is currently in custody in New York awaiting extradition to Oklahoma, where he will face the outstanding charges from 2012 along with new charges related to his flight from justice.
